April 29, 2026
Mr. Harrigan submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs
Addressing the politicization of war crimes allegations against allied Special Operations Forces.
Whereas the United States is bound by longstanding military alliances and partnerships with nations including the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and other coalition allies, which have stood alongside United States forces in conflicts and international missions over decades, demonstrating shared sacrifice and commitment;
Whereas servicemembers from these allied nations have fought and bled beside American troops in coalition operations, including collective security and counter terrorism missions in Afghanistan, Iraq, and other conflict zones, and have borne significant sacrifices, as evidenced by the 457 United Kingdom personnel and 41 Australian personnel who lost their lives during the Afghanistan war, among many others from allied countries;
Whereas the special operations forces of these partner nations (such as the United Kingdom’s Special Air Service and Australia’s Special Air Service Regiment and Commandos) have played an integral role in achieving coalition objectives, demonstrating exceptional courage, skill, and dedication in joint operations to advance global security and stability;
Whereas, in recent years, unjust allegations of war crimes have been raised against members of the special operations forces of certain allied countries, including Australia and the United Kingdom, based on actions during the Afghanistan conflict and other deployments, leading to heavily politicized official inquiries, leading to unwarranted investigations influenced by domestic politics;
Whereas retrospective and politically motivated accusations of war crimes, particularly those surfacing years after the events, without substantial evidence, risk undermining morale and trust by creating a perception that honorable service is being second-guessed for political gain, and such politicization of justice could erode the vital interoperability and cohesion among United States and allied forces;
Whereas the strain that politicized allegations can place on alliances and cooperation is exemplified by the United States warning in 2021 that these politically influenced findings
of war crimes by Australian special forces in Afghanistan might trigger legal restrictions (under United States Leahy Law) on American forces partnering with certain Australian units, thereby imperiling the hard-earned trust and integration between our militaries;
Whereas the United States and its allies share an interest in upholding the rule of law and ensuring that any alleged war crimes are investigated impartially and thoroughly, with due process and respect for justice, but also in ensuring that these processes remain free of political interference or attempts to score partisan or ideological points at the expense of servicemembers’ reputations;
Whereas the United States, the United Kingdom, and allied nations conducted military operations in reliance on the Law of Armed Conflict as recognized in their official doctrine and treaty obligations;
Whereas retroactively applying novel or evolving interpretations of humanitarian law to past operations undermines the bedrock principle of legal certainty, invites politicized and selective prosecutions, punishes good-faith compliance efforts, erodes interoperability and trust among allies, inhibits timely decision making in combat, weakens deterrence, and emboldens adversaries who would weaponize legal ambiguity by signaling that service members and commanders cannot rely on the rules in force at the time; and
Whereas the integrity and strength of America’s alliances are critical to United States national security, and preserving mutual respect and confidence is essential so that future coalition operations are not hampered by fear that servicemembers could be subject to unfair or politicized legal actions long after their missions end: Now, therefore, be it
That it is the sense of Congress that—
(1)
the United States profoundly appreciates and acknowledges the longstanding alliances with countries such as the United Kingdom, Australia, and other partner nations, and honors the service and sacrifices of their armed forces who have fought alongside United States troops in Afghanistan, Iraq, and other missions, and these sacrifices are exemplified by the lives lost and injuries suffered by allied servicemembers in these conflicts;
(2)
allied forces participated in these collective security and counterterrorism operations at the behest of and in support of mutual defense agreements and United States-led missions, and their contributions were integral to the success of those missions, reflecting a shared commitment to global security;
(3)
Congress expresses concern that retrospective, politically motivated accusations of war crimes against the special operations forces of United States allies, particularly when raised or revisited long after the fact, risk undermining the mutual trust, interoperability, and morale that underpin the United States-allied military relationships, and such accusations, if driven by political pressures rather than purely by facts and evidence, are viewed as detrimental to alliance unity and the confidence of our servicemembers;
(4)
the executive branch, including the Department of Defense and the Department of State, is urged to work proactively with the governments of allied nations, such as Australia, the United Kingdom, and others, to ensure that any investigations or legal processes regarding alleged war crimes by their servicemembers are conducted without politicization, thereby bolstering confidence in the outcomes and reinforcing our mutual trust; and
(5)
honoring the sacrifices of allied servicemembers and preserving the strength and cohesion of our alliances is in the national interest of the United States, and that while the rule of law must always be respected, the politicization of war crimes allegations for short-term political purposes is strongly discouraged as it runs counter to our shared values and threatens to weaken the crucial alliances that safeguard international peace and security.